Method and apparatus for selling solar roofs

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for selling solar roofs. The method includes the steps of estimating an internal cost of a roof and of a solar system disposed over the roof and apportioning at least some of the costs between the roof and solar system. The method further includes the steps of adding a profit to the apportioned cost of the solar system to provide a solar project estimate, adding the solar project estimate to the apportioned roof cost to provide a project estimate and calculating a return cash flow over a predetermined time period from the project estimate of the roof and solar system. The method also includes the step of determining a dollar value that a competitor would be required to charge for a competitive roof alone to achieve a comparable return cash flow over the predetermined time period.

1 . A method of selling solar roofs comprising: 
 estimating an internal cost of a roof and of a solar system disposed on the roof;    apportioning internal costs between the roof and solar system;    adding a profit to the apportioned cost of the solar system to provide a solar project estimate;    adding the solar project estimate to the apportioned roof cost to provide a project estimate;    calculating a return cash flow over a predetermined time period from the project estimate; and    determining a dollar value that a competitor would charge for a comparable roof alone to achieve a substantially equal return cash flow over the predetermined time period.    
     
     
         2 . The method as in  claim 1  further comprises adding a profit to the apportioned cost of the roof.  
     
     
         3 . The method as in  claim 1  wherein calculating the return cash flow further comprises adding a Federal energy credit.  
     
     
         4 . The method as in  claim 1  wherein the Federal energy credit further comprises 30% of the solar project estimate.  
     
     
         5 . The method as in  claim 1  wherein calculating the return cash flow further comprises adding a state energy credit.  
     
     
         6 . The method as in  claim 1  wherein calculating the return cash flow further comprises adding an energy savings.  
     
     
         7 . The method as in  claim 1  wherein calculating the return cash flow further comprises subtracting an increased tax burden due to energy savings and depreciation.  
     
     
         8 . The method as in  claim 1  wherein calculating the return cash flow further comprises depreciating a depreciable portion of the solar project estimate over a six year period.  
     
     
         9 . The method as in  claim 1  wherein calculating the return cash flow further comprises depreciating the estimated internal roof cost over a 39 year period.  
     
     
         10 . The method as in  claim 1  wherein the predetermined time period further comprises 15 years or a predetermined roof warranty period.  
     
     
         11 . The method as in  claim 1  further comprising iteratively determining the dollar value that a competitor would charge.  
     
     
         12 . An apparatus for selling solar roofs comprising: 
 a roof calculator that calculates an internal cost of a roof and of a solar system disposed on the roof;    an apportioning processor that apportions internal costs between the roof and solar system and adds a profit to the apportioned cost of the solar system to provide a solar project estimate and that adds the solar project estimate to the apportioned roof cost to provide a project estimate;    a cash flow processor that calculates a return cash flow over a predetermined time period from the project estimate; and    a dollar value that a competitor would be required to charge for a comparable roof alone to achieve a substantially equal return cash flow over the predetermined time period where the dollar value is determined from the calculated return cash flow.    
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as in  claim 13  further comprises a profit that is added to the apportioned cost of the roof.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus as in  claim 13  wherein the calculated the return cash flow further comprises a Federal energy credit.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus as in  claim 13  wherein the Federal energy credit further comprises  30 % of the solar project estimate.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus as in  claim 13  wherein the calculated return cash flow further comprises a state energy credit.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus as in  claim 13  wherein the calculated return cash flow further comprises an energy savings.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus as in  claim 13  wherein the calculated return cash flow further comprises an increased tax burden due to energy savings and depreciation subtracted from the calculated return cash flow.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus as in  claim 13  wherein the calculated return cash flow further comprises a portion of the solar project estimate depreciated over a six year period.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus as in  claim 13  wherein the calculated return cash flow further comprises the estimated internal roof cost depreciated over a 39 year period.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus as in  claim 13  wherein the predetermined time period further comprises 15 years or a predetermined roof warranty period.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus as in  claim 13  wherein the iteratively determined the dollar value that a competitor would charge further comprises an iterated value.  
     
     
         23 . An apparatus for selling solar roofs comprising: 
 means for estimating an internal cost of a roof and of a solar system disposed on the roof;    means for apportioning internal costs between the roof and solar system;    means for adding a profit to the apportioned cost of the solar system to provide a solar project estimate;    means for adding the solar project estimate to the apportioned roof cost to provide a project estimate;    means for calculating a return cash flow over a predetermined time period from the project estimate of the roof and solar system; and    means for determining a dollar value that a competitor would charge for a comparable roof alone to achieve a substantially equal return cash flow over the predetermined time period.    
     
     
         24 . A method of selling related products comprising: 
 estimating an internal cost of a first product and of a second product associated with the first product;    apportioning internal costs between the first and second products;    adding a profit to the apportioned cost of the second product to provide a first estimate;    adding the first estimate to the apportioned cost of the first product to provide a project estimate;    calculating a return cash flow provided by the first and second products over a predetermined time period from the project estimate; and    determining a dollar value that a competitor would charge for a comparable first product alone to achieve a substantially equal return cash flow over the predetermined time period.